IJ file photo of the Golden Gate Transit ferry San Francisco as it motors past San Quentin Penitentiary on it's way to the Larkspur Ferry Landing. Golden Gate Bridge District will refurbish this ferry at a cost of $20 million. (Marin Independent Journal archive)
Jeff Vendsel

Changes are likely coming to the Larkpur Ferry Terminal, including added ferry service, a shuttle bus from the Ross Valley and paid parking as the system grapples with its growing ridership stimulated by a rebounding economy.

Larkspur ferry ridership is growing at a rate of about 6 to 8 percent when compared recent months to the same period last year, according to ferry officials. There are about 5,300 daily weekday riders, though that figure has reached 5,800 on certain days in the past two months.

The growing ridership has led to crowded boats and a dearth of parking during peak commuter periods.

To help relieve the pressure, Larkspur ferry officials are now looking at adding a seventh morning commute run at 7:30 a.m.

"We are trying to figure out ways to accommodate the growing ridership and adding service is an obvious one," said Mary Currie, Golden Gate Bridge district spokeswoman.

It would be part a nine-month demonstration project that would begin Sept. 3. The plan will be heard Thursday by the district's Transportation Committee and could get final approval by the full bridge board Friday.

The pilot project would also include a shuttle service during commute hours connecting the Ross Valley/Sir Francis Drake Boulevard corridor to the ferry terminal to help relieve parking. It would have five runs from the Ross Valley in the morning and six return trips in the evening. It would also begin Sept. 3 and be free to ferry riders. The added ferry and shuttle would cost the district about $540,000 over the life of the pilot program.

On the parking front, ferry planners are working with the Ross Valley Sanitary District and Marin Country Mart to use their land near the terminal for commuters.

The district is also looking at conducting an analysis of charging a $1 or $2 daily parking fee, as well as studying a monthly prepaid pass. A paid parking program would go into place in January and could generate up to $417,000 annually, although the cost of a fee collection system has not been determined.

A member of the district's Ferry Passengers Advisory Committee was not completely sold on the plan.

"I would be concerned about losing passengers if they charge for parking," said Dwight Steeves of San Rafael. "You also may see people trying to park up and down Sir Francis Drake Boulevard (outside of the terminal)."

The district will also look again at construction of a parking structure. An old proposal called for a 969-space structure, which would net the district an additional 569 spaces because it would be built in the existing lot atop 400 spaces. It would cost about $25 million.